Help Just Clean Tank, Betta Sitting Vertically

My fish is having trouble too I’m worried he’s dying! I just changed his water and acclimated him it said to keep him in his container for a half hour. I waited then I checked his temp they felt the same and I put him in with his old water in the cup. He’s been vertically sitting at the top of his tank for a couple hrs now. I’m worried he’s going to die I’ve only had him a couple weeks. HI ladies help



I just clean his tank for the first time since getting him. I’ve had him a couple weeks and his water needed to be cleaned. I put him in his container he came with From Petco with his original water from the tank before I cleaned it. Then I cleaned the tank emptied the old water into the sink moved the pebbles around to clean it out and then put new water in then after letting the water sit for a while. I put him in his container inside of the tank to acclimate him for a half hour like it said online. I looked at a lot of websites and it said 15 to 30 minutes so I did 30 to be safe. And it’s been two hours now and he is just sitting vertically at the top of the tank not moving a lot I put food in there to make him move around a little bit and he he’s moving around but not a lot. When he is moving around he’s swimming normally. He kind of sinks down and swims back up once in a while. Please help!

 

You dechlorinated the new water?

 

Yes I did the exact same thing I did when I first put him in his new tank I don’t know why he’s acting like this.

 

Did u make sure the temperature of your water was the same temperature as the cup he was in?

Oh wait you did

 

Yep I felt it and it felt the same and everything

I made sure that the temps were the same. Now he’s swimming around but he is kind of like freakishly swimming around and then when he isn’t swimming around he’s kind of swimming normally now but it’s not for very long when he is swimming and then he’ll stop and you just float at the top

This is the most swimming around he’s done since I’ve change the water

 

He might just be pouting. Is he actually breaking the surface of the water? Like to take a breath?

 

Yep

 

Constantly? Or just once in awhile? Does this tank have a filter?

 

I had a filter before but the current was too strong so he was hogging it and it was the smallest filter that they had at any store

This is the filter

 

It almost sounds like a lack of oxygen in the water. Surface agitation helps with this. You can get surface agitation from a filter, or from a bubbler. It helps with the gas exchange.

But I lean more towards he is being a big baby. He was swimming around all happy, and you put him back in his little cup. Now he is back, and he is mad. I would just keep an eye on him. Keep the temp between 78-80 but no higher, as higher water temps mean less oxygen yet.

Also, there is really no need to remove him from the tank when you change the water. It stresses them out.

 

LOL my big baby Finn almost gave me a heart attack! So how would I clean his tank with him still in it because when I clean his tank I just empty all of the old water out while he’s in his little container he’s only in there for a little bit

His water is not even really warm I’d say it’s about yeah it’s not even that warm it’s right on the middle base of just about to get warm I don’t really have a thermometer or anything to test the water temperature but just my feeling it doesn’t really feel warm I think he’s just being a big baby i’ll keep an eye on him

 

Don't empty and change all of the water at once. That may be part of the problem too. Only do about 50% at least once a week. Do you have a test kit? To test the water parameters?

Also, betta really need temps in the range I listed above. Can you get a small heater for him? What size is the tank?

 

It’s a 1 gallon I was told it would’ve been fine

I mean I’ve had fish before and I’ve done the same thing same cleaning routine and everything and I’ve never had this problem so that’s why I kind a like freaked out

Somebody just told me that I should euthanize it WHAT!?!?

 

It’s a 1 gallon I was told it would’ve been fine

I mean I’ve had fish before and I’ve done the same thing same cleaning routine and everything and I’ve never had this problem so that’s why I kind a like freaked out

Somebody just told me that I should euthanize it WHAT!?!?

HI and welcome to fishlore! First off, nice username! Second, don't euthanize your fish, and probably take any more advice from that person with many grains of salt. Where did they give you that info?

I have a lot of advice for you! Really, your fish needs to be in a larger aquarium/container to thrive. Many people say 5 gallons is the only acceptable minimum, and I certainly wouldn't put my bettas in anything smaller. However, I think you can get away with 2.5 - 3 gallons too. Whoever told you one gallon is fine did not have your pet's best interest in mind. One gallon of water gets too dirty too fast. Even if you're doing daily 50% water changes (as you should be), your fish would appreciate more space to explore and thrive.

If the filter is too strong, there are ways to reduce flow without removing the filter. Look up how to baffle a filter with sponge or a plastic water bottle. Certainly, if the ambient temperature of your room isn't a consistent 78-80F, your water is too cold and a heater is in order. This is part of the reason why a larger tank is advised - most heaters can't safely regulate temperature in a tiny tank. Get a glass thermometer for $2 at petco, so that you can keep track of the water temp. It's an important part of keeping your fish healthy.

If you've conditioned the water and the temperature matches, I'd say your fish might be cold and bored in such a small space.

 

thanks soo much

He seems to be doing much better now he’s swimming around a lot better than before

 

Update my fish has passed away I think he went into shock.

 

Sorry for your loss but I don't think your tank was cycled if you said it was only set up for a couple weeks. The nitrogen cycle can take anywhere from 4-8 weeks if no established media is used and the tank must be fed to get the cycle going. A bottled bacteria pure ammonia or fish food are 3 ways to get the cycle started.

 

Thank you

 

Update my fish has passed away I think he went into shock.

Sorry your little Finn did not do well Emily. Research some more and don't give up. Betta Fish Care Guide: A One Page Care Sheet - all You Need to Know!

 

Sorry for your loss, don't give up, read up on the nitrogen cycle, betta care, and how to do a water change, the nitrogen cycle is just bacteria that converts the toxic ammonia into the toxic nitrite and then the toxic nitrite into the safe nitrate. Bettas should have 2.5-5 gallons as a minimum tank size and should have no ammonia or nitrite and less than 40 ppm nitrate, get the API test kit to know these numbers. To do a water change get a siphon, siphon out some water and then add back dechlorinated clean water. Good luck with your fish journey I started out this way except with a goldfish.

 

Update my fish has passed away I think he went into shock.

Very sorry for your loss. But as others were saying, the nitrogen cycle is one of the most important things a tank must have for fish to live a long life. I wouldn’t even do 50% daily water changes as this can cause an unstable KH which will then affect the ph. Too many water changes as well as too many large water changes can have disastrous affects on your fish. Drastic changes in the ph and fluctuating temperatures can have grave consequences for your fishy friend.

I change 15% - 25% of my betta, King’s, water out once or twice weekly. And I vacuum the gravel one time a week and he is in a 5.5 gallon tank. My Veteranarian recommended this cleaning technique to me and I have had a huge success with it.

In the future, betta fish that you choose to care for should have at LEAST a 5 gallon tank. Larger tanks are also easier to maintain. And you should also test the water quality 1-2 times weekly and do water changes no larger than 25% once or twice weekly unless your betta is sick. But never do water changes above 50% unless you are allowing the tank to cycle and adjust for some time after the change.

Also, you can purchase a gravel vacuum online or in some aquarium and fish stores. Vacuuming the substrate is a very crucial step in preventing ammonia poisoning and unhealthy water parameters. Fish keeping isn’t easy and takes practice. So do not be discouraged.

Best of luck!
-Laynee

 

Very sorry for your loss. But as others were saying, the nitrogen cycle is one of the most important things a tank must have for fish to live a long life. I wouldn’t even do 50% daily water changes as this can cause an unstable KH which will then affect the ph. Too many water changes as well as too many large water changes can have disastrous affects on your fish. Drastic changes in the ph and fluctuating temperatures can have grave consequences for your fishy friend.

I change 15% - 25% of my betta, King’s, water out once or twice weekly. And I vacuum the gravel one time a week and he is in a 5.5 gallon tank. My Veteranarian recommended this cleaning technique to me and I have had a huge success with it.

In the future, betta fish that you choose to care for should have at LEAST a 5 gallon tank. Larger tanks are also easier to maintain. And you should also test the water quality 1-2 times weekly and do water changes no larger than 25% once or twice weekly unless your betta is sick. But never do water changes above 50% unless you are allowing the tank to cycle and adjust for some time after the change.

Also, you can purchase a gravel vacuum online or in some aquarium and fish stores. Vacuuming the substrate is a very crucial step in preventing ammonia poisoning and unhealthy water parameters. Fish keeping isn’t easy and takes practice. So do not be discouraged.

Best of luck!
-Laynee

Great post totally agree.

 

My fish is having trouble too I’m worried he’s dying! I just changed his water and acclimated him it said to keep him in his container for a half hour. I waited then I checked his temp they felt the same and I put him in with his old water in the cup. He’s been vertically sitting at the top of his tank for a couple hrs now. I’m worried he’s going to die I’ve only had him a couple weeks. HI ladies help

View attachment 577463 View attachment 577464 I just clean his tank for the first time since getting him. I’ve had him a couple weeks and his water needed to be cleaned. I put him in his container he came with From Petco with his original water from the tank before I cleaned it. Then I cleaned the tank emptied the old water into the sink moved the pebbles around to clean it out and then put new water in then after letting the water sit for a while. I put him in his container inside of the tank to acclimate him for a half hour like it said online. I looked at a lot of websites and it said 15 to 30 minutes so I did 30 to be safe. And it’s been two hours now and he is just sitting vertically at the top of the tank not moving a lot I put food in there to make him move around a little bit and he he’s moving around but not a lot. When he is moving around he’s swimming normally. He kind of sinks down and swims back up once in a while. Please help!

I'm going to have to disagree with other people saying it has to do with chlorine or oxygen. It looks to me as if your fish has a problem with his swim bladder, which helps keep the fish upright and maintain balance. There are lots of online articles that can help. I'll research some for you and get back to you with some answers.

 

In the future, betta fish that you choose to care for should have at LEAST a 5 gallon tank. Larger tanks are also easier to maintain. And you should also test the water quality 1-2 times weekly and do water changes no larger than 25% once or twice weekly unless your betta is sick. But never do water changes above 50% unless you are allowing the tank to cycle and adjust for some time after the change.
-Laynee

Hello. Just curious where you got this information from? That you should not do any water changes larger than 25%? I have a betta in a 20 gallon tank and I change at least 50% of his water twice a week. And he is absolutely thriving. I have also not had a reason to test my water once it was cycled. Just not sure of reasoning behind your statement? Thanks.

 

So sorry for your loss